DONAIRE WANTS COMEBACK FIGHT IN THE PHILIPPINES
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 21 Oct 2014
Five division world champion Nonito ?The Filipino Flash? Donaire wants his comeback fight from his crushing 6th round knockout at the hands of Jamaica?s Nicholas ?Axe Man? Walters to be held in the Philippines.
The Manila Standard/Viva Sports learned that tentative discussions had already been held and that the alternate choice would be in Dubai where ABS-CBN staged a tremendously successful Pinoy Pride fight card before a turn-away crowd of Filipino overseas workers at the World Trade Center.
Donaire?s father/trainer ?Dodong? Donaire told us that they had decided to go down to super bantamweight where Nonito dominated the division earning the ?Fighter of the Year? accolade in 2012 and emerging as No.5 in the prestigious Ring Magazine pound for pound rankings.
He said the return of Donaire could be in a regional title fight so he could once again re-establish his credentials before going after a world super bantamweight title.
Donaire who had ten stitches on both eyebrows indicated he needs time to rest and spend quality time with his family and allow his wounds to heal before plunging into training to be in the best shape of his life for his return which he expects to be staged in May next year.
The support Donaire received from his Filipino fans and admirers in the US and around the world despite the loss, helped lift his spirits and prompted him to want to fight before a predominantly hometown crowd although he did receive a tremendous reception from the fans at the StubHub Center which he appreciated.
The father/trainer told us that unlike most fighters who are depressed or downhearted after losing by a knockout especially for the first time, Nonito was ?doing good and is not really down. His spirits are good? which was evident in his post fight demeanor which won praise from the media and from Walters himself for Donaire?s innate class.
Donaire and his dad realized that the featherweight division was too tough to handle because the fighters were ?bigger and stronger? as clearly evidenced by the overwhelming power of Walters.
Donaire Sr noted that Nonito even hurt Walters with a punch that sent him reeling backwards in the final seconds of round two prompting respected boxing writer Kieran Mulvaney to suggest that if the bell hadn?t rung the result could conceivably have been different.
However, both Nonito and his father/trainer conceded that Walters was too big and hit too hard and that, despite the Jamaican?s momentary wobbly legs in round two, he could handle Nonito?s power.
But ?Dodong? Donaire said it would be a different story when Nonito returns to super bantamweight pointing out that at 122 pounds the former featherweight champion would be ?explosive.?
Donaire Sr said his son admitted after the fight that he had made a mistake because ?I didn?t listen to you? to stay at a distance and outbox Walters instead of getting too close and exchanging big shots which is what Donaire did and paid the price.
Nonito Donaire believes his loss and referee Raul Caiz Jr?s decision to stop the fight at 2:59 of the 6th round was a blessing in disguise because he would have continued to beat the count and may have suffered severe injuries because of that.
Donaire and his family drove back to their home in Las Vegas from Carson, California yesterday and was to take a well-deserved rest, spend quality time with wife Rachel and their son Jarel whom he had missed for two months as he trained at his Dad?s gym in Oakland, California.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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